A blog dedicated to coverage of rock news, reviews of CD's/DVD's, live gigs and interviews with musicians who have made rock music great!
Coverage of hard rock, classic rock, AOR and popular melodic rock music across the genre.
This blog is the creation of Alun Williams, a Brit now living in Michigan whose previous credits include writing for the following sites:
www.classicrock.about.com
www.classicrockrevisited.com
and www.rocknrolluniverse.com (Now gone)
I hope you enjoy your visit here!

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Friday, March 11, 2011

Brief Rock News Update for Friday 14th January, 2011

Frontiers Records is excited to announce the release of the new album from Portland-based Rockers BLACK ‘N' BLUE on May 13th in Europe and May 17th in North America.

“Hell Yeah!” is a proud comeback statement for a band that wrote the pages of hard rock history in the 80’s. Black ‘N' Blue released four successful and critically-acclaimed albums through Geffen Records: their self-titled debut (1984), “Without Love” (1985), “Nasty Nasty” (1986), and “In Heat” (1987), with the latter two albums produced by the legendary Gene Simmons of KISS. Catalogue sales in the US were in excess of one million units and the band’s original guitar player Tommy Thayer went on to replace Ace Frehley in the current KISS lineup.

Black 'N' Blue reunited for the first time in 2003 under the initiative of singer Jaime St. James, when he began writing tracks for a new album along with original member, Jef "Woop" Warner. The process came to a halt when St. James joined Warrant as their new lead vocalist in February of 2004.

In recent years, Jaime has been releasing records and touring the world with Warrant.

In late 2008, plans to get back into the studio and finish the “Hell Yeah!” album were underway, as well as festival appearances and other touring. “The band’s line-up is all original except Shawn Sonnenschein”, tells Jaime St. James “but he has been in the band now for about 8 years. Still the new guy... Jeez!”.Black ‘N' Blue recently joined the ever-expanding roster of Frontiers Records.

“Hell Yeah!” goes back to the roots of the “classic” Black ‘N' Blue sound, mixing tight and hard rocking songs with a sleazy attitude. “This new album is a real thrill for us and all of the BNB fans” says St. James.“Our last studio recording was in 1988 so it's a big deal. This is a classic BNB-sounding CD and could be described as a cross between all our previous records. It is heavy for the most part, but I like to think it reminds me of our first album. That's why we brought back the original logo. We just modernized it”.

Black ‘N' Blue will make a special live appearance at the M3 Rock Festival at the Merryweather Post Pavilion in Columbus MD on May 14th. More shows and festivals to be announced.

The new album “Hell Yeah!” will include the following tracks: Monkey; Target; Hail Hail; Fool's Bleed; C'mon; Jaime's Got The Beer; Angry Drunk Son Of A Bitch; So Long; Trippin'; Falling Down; Candy; Hell Yeah!; World Goes Round.

An update from Wendy Dio on the Ronnie James Dio, 'Stand up and Shout Cancer, through the Dio website.

A lot of Dio fans have been interested and asking about the Ronnie James Dio 'Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund,' so I thought I would try to get you up to date on some of the things that we have been doing. First of all, the SUAS Cancer Fund and the Niji Entertainment Group are two separate organizations and have nothing to do with each other!

Niji is the Record label and The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund is a non profit Cancer Fund run by 15 volunteers. To date the Ronnie James DioStand Up And Shout Cancer Fund has raised over $450,000 from donations from fans just like you and from some of the biggest bands in the world!

We just donated $100,000 to the T.J, Martell Foundation for Cancer, AIDS and Leukemia research and have pledged $100,000 for the next 3 years!!!! We have also donated $117,000 to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Facility for Gastric Cancer, this is where Ronnie received most of his Chemo research. We have pledged $117,000 for the next 3 years.

We donated $10,000 to the Phil Kennemore (Y&T) Foundation and unfortunately he passed away on January 7th from Lung Cancer.

We are planning 3 major events to help raise even more money for Cancer Research and awareness in Ronnie's memory. We are planning a major guitar and bass auction that will take place at Christie'slater this year! So far we have autographed guitars from Slash, Metallica, No Doubt, Lit, Slayer, Tom Morello, Aerosmith, As I Lay Dying, Gwar, Tony Iommi, Geddy Lee, Billy Sheehan, Paul Gilbert and many, many, many more top bands!

Next year we are doing 3 charity concerts in Los Angeles, New York and London and last but not least, we will be doing an Official Ronnie James Dio Tribute CD with the biggest names in music singing their favorite RJD songs!

If you would like to make a donation to the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund, please go to http://www.ronniejamesdio.com/ and in the lower left corner of the main page is a donate button.

We know times are tough, even if you can give $1.00, every penny helps to save lives! Men!!!!! If you are over 50 years old, please go get a complete Cancer Check-Up. If not for you, do it for you wife, your children, you family!
Official site: http://www.ronniejamesdio.com/

PAUL RODGERS 2011 SUMMER US DATES ANNOUNCED

I can't tell you anything about any new material from Paul Rodgers, but if you are a fan, the man has announced some initial North American tour dates, that will follow his UK tour in April.

Former Strangler "Hugh Cornwell" to release Ltd Edition album on UK tour

To coincide with Hugh Cornwell’s upcoming nationwide Spring 2011 UK Tour, the former Stranglers front man and singer/songwriter, has announced an “exclusive” limited edition 10-track album entitled “You’re Covered!” The album is strictly limited to 250 copies and will be available to VIP ticket holders only!

All VIP tickets are available from www.seetickets.com, or fans can hit the Red Button on Cornwell’s official website http://www.hughcornwell.com/ where they can also hear two exclusive streamed audio tracks from the limited edition CD.

"Over the years I've heard certain songs which have stayed with me and will suddenly pop up into my head for no apparent reason,” says Hugh about ‘You’re Covered!’.

“They range from 'things' that I heard as a kid, to 'calling your name', which I only heard a few years ago for the very first time. This selection is by no means comprehensive, but is a cross-section of influences."

“You’re Covered!” - Album Track Listing:

1) “Things” (Bobby Darin)

2) “She Smiled Sweetly” (Jagger/Richards)

3) “Message To Pretty” (Arthur Lee)

4) “His Latest Flame” (Doc Pumus/Mort Shuman)

5) “The Shrine on the Second Floor” (Heneker/Moore/Norman/Mankowitz/Robbins)